News Roundup

The Blue Angels, U.S. Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron, perform during the 28th Annual Wings Over Houston Airshow at Ellington Field on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Mayra Beltran, Houston Chronicle

SOUTH BEXAR COUNTY

4-vehicle crash kills 1, injures 1

One person was killed and another injured in a four-vehicle collision in far south Bexar County late Friday.

According to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, a man driving a Dodge Neon east on Loop 1604 at Trumbo Road veered into the westbound lane and collided head-on with another vehicle about 11:30 p.m.

Motorists in two additional vehicles crashed into the wreck.

The man driving the Neon was pronounced dead at the scene, and the woman driving the vehicle he hit was taken to University Hospital with injuries not thought to be life-threatening. No one else was injured.

Officials were still investigating the cause of the wreck, which occurred on an unlit stretch of the highway.

WILSON COUNTY

S.A. cop faces assault charge

A San Antonio police homicide detective who was arrested by Wilson County authorities late Friday on a charge of assault causing bodily injury remained in jail there Saturday evening.

The detective, Raymond Roberts, had bond set at $3,000.

Sgt. Javier Salazar, spokesman for SAPD, said Roberts is a 24-year veteran. He'll be placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of internal and criminal investigations.

Wilson County authorities declined to release details of the arrest and Salazar said SAPD had not yet received a report.

NORTH SIDE

Fires damage apts., house

Two fires displaced residents on the North and Northeast sides early Saturday, officials said.

A two-alarm fire erupted at the Churchill Park Apartments in the 1100 block of Patricia Drive about 12:30 a.m. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the blaze is undetermined.

The local chapter of the American Red Cross responded, though it's unknown how many people required help.

About an hour later, a fire that started from a candle left burning in a bedroom sparked a fire in the 4800 block of Ray Bon Drive.

No one was injured, but the fire caused about $100,000 in damage.

EAST SIDE

Aggressive dog killed by officer

A police officer shot and killed a dog Saturday after officers said it ripped off its owner's pants and bit a man who tried to intervene.

The incident began about 2 p.m. when a woman's dog got loose from her front yard on J Street, Sgt. Gary Pelfrey said.

“According to her, in a playful manner the dog started ripping her clothes off,” he said. “An innocent bystander who was walking down the street didn't know they were being playful, and he tried to help.”

The dog, described as pit bull-like, bit the man in the leg and ran down the street, Pelfrey said. Paramedics were called, and they called police.

When the officer arrived, the woman was “walking down the street in a thong,” still trying to regain control of her pet, he said.

The dog approached the officer in an aggressive manner, Pelfrey said, and he fired a shot from about 7 feet away, killing it.

EDGEWOOD ISD﻿﻿

Schools chasing $40 million

Edgewood Independent and nine rural school districts are applying for a $40 million grant through the federal Race to the Top competition, which this year opened to Texas schools.

The consortium includes Cotulla, Devine, Dilley, Floresville, La Pryor, Natalia, Pearsall, Poteet, and Poth ISDs, with Edgewood as the lead applicant.

“The main purpose of this grant is to personalize learning and ... create equity for all students,” said Susan Forthman, director of state and federal programs at Edgewood.

The group will seek to use more technology in the classroom for project-based learning and for a method of instruction called “blended learning.”

The four-year-grant is meant to help close achievement gaps. The U.S. Department of Education will announce as many as 25 awards ranging from $5 million to $40 million in December.